Evening Wedding Time Frames:

Evening “ceremony only” weddings are allowed any night but Saturdays, from 6pm-8pm with a 7pm start time. The times may be limited due to festivals & public events that take precedence over weddings.

Rosine Hall is the only venue that allows music to play until 12am. The cost would be $200 for the additional hour and includes staffing fees.

Daytime Ceremonies and/or Ceremony & Reception:

Daytime “ceremony only” event time frames are-9am-11am with a 10am start time, 12pm-2pm with a 1pm start time & 3pm-5pm with a 4pm start time. Times may be limited due to festivals & public events that take precedence over weddings.

Daytime ceremony and reception time frame is 9am-2pm with a 10am ceremony start time.

No cars are allowed to drive within the gardens during the garden public hours (9am-5pm). All vendors during this time must walk/carry equipment or use a push cart. Assistance cannot be promised.

Outdoor Policy regarding entertainment:

Amplified music may not be played after 10:30pm at the DeGolyer Estate & the Alex Camp House in accordance with the Dallas City Ordinance.

Daytime garden events must use non-amplified music. Drums, horns, or brass instruments are not allowed in accordance with the Dallas City Ordinance.

All outdoor evening amplified music must end at 10:30pm as required by Dallas City Ordinance. No exceptions.

Outdoor Ceremonies / Venues:

Each of the reception venues has their own ceremony sites to choose from, included at no charge.

There is no use of the inside of the DeGolyer Estate except for the bridal room & the Tea Room.

The Alex Camp House allows use of the inside lower level, but eating & dancing are done outside.

Rosine Hall is the only venue that you can eat & dance inside. The ceremony would be outdoors. This venue requires 150-200 guests to book a Saturday evening. We make exceptions for less than 150-200 guests on all other nights.

You may choose to use a ceremony site from another venue based on availability; the pricing varies.

Please let guests know that the ceremony will be held outside & there is a short walk to the venue. Assistance to the venues cannot be promised.

Rain Plan:

It’s always a good idea to have a back-up rain plan in case of poor weather. The Dallas Arboretum is unable to provide a rain back up.

Daytime “ceremony only” weddings do not have a rain plan. If one of the event spaces is not being used at the time of the event, we can use one of these as a rain plan; subject to availability of space.

Daytime and evening ceremony & receptions rain plan is to have ceremony where the dancing is to take place.

You will discuss & make a rain plan when you meet with your Event Manager to create the setup diagram.

Tenting:

Tents are allowed at the reception locations. It is always a good idea to consider tenting when planning for an outdoor event. Tents are not allowed on any of the ceremony sites.

If you have more than 100 guests at either the DeGolyer Estate or the Alex Camp House, you need to budget for a tent.

Your Event Manager will discuss the tenting options & get a quote for the tent. Renting the tent requires a permit through the City of Dallas. This permit is an estimated $875.

30 days before event: Deadline to obtain permit from City of Dallas. Permit runs $875 and is non-refundable.

10 days before the event: Deadline to confirm installation of tent. Your payment will confirm your request for the tent.

Rehearsals:

Rehearsals will be scheduled through your Event Manager. They may be scheduled Monday through Thursday, between 9am and 4pm or Fridays from 9am-1pm. No weekend or after-hours rehearsals are available.

Parking and admission for your wedding party are included.

Vendors:

Vendors are allowed to arrive at 5pm unless a different time has been arranged with the Event Manager.

Event Manager will coordinate vendor load-ins. You will be given a vendor list to record the vendor names and contact numbers that will be given to the Event Manager.

After-hours ceremonies/receptions:

Vendors are allowed to arrive at 5pm unless a different time has been arranged with the Event Manager.

All vendors arriving at 5pm must walk/carry equipment or use a push cart to the venue.

At 6pm the vendors will be escorted up to the venue to unload by the Event Manager or the Event Facilitator.

Vendors are to pick up all items brought to the event at the conclusion of the event.

Assistance cannot be promised for any of the above.

Decorations:

All flower arrangements must have fresh, live flowers and any loose petals used must be real and be white or ivory in color.

Since we are a botanical garden, bird seed, rice, paper confetti and other non-natural items cannot be used for decoration or used for tossing at the bride & groom at their send off.

Decorations cannot be hung from the trees or stuck in the ground.

If additional time is needed for decorating before 5pm, each hour or partial hour is $200.

Additional Equipment Rentals:

Payment for additional rental equipment must be made one month before the event.

Event Manager:

Your Event Manager will make initial contact via email with your contract within a week after booking.

The Event Manager will be your direct contact and will assist you at all times with questions and concerns pertaining to the venue.

Your Event Manager’s main role is to coordinate the set-up of your rental site, as well as ordering tents, special lighting and other items that may be requested.

The Event Manager is not an event planner or wedding coordinator. If you desire this type of service, you may wish to contact an independent planner or use our preferred Planner List which includes event/wedding planners who are familiar with our garden guidelines & rules.

You will have an Event Facilitator the day of the event, who will be at your venue to oversee load-in, set- up, be a point-of-contact during the event, and close the venue at the end of the event.

Booking your event at the Arboretum:

A security deposit & a percentage of the venue fee is due when booking to secure your reservation.

If there are damages to the grounds or property, the fees are deducted from your deposit.

If your event goes beyond your contracted rental time, you will incur an overtime charge of $200 or more, to cover staffing fees.

Your security deposit, less any applicable deductions, will be mailed out up to 45 days after your event.

Payments may be made by credit card, cash or mailing in a check. We will not take payments out of your account automatically; you must call each time with the credit card number.